Set-off vehicle top



March 25, 1930., W. F. KASPER ET A1. 1,751,924

SET-OFF VEHICLE TOP Filed May 29, 1929 2Q, Inmor WALTER F KAS/ER EWARD J /VEKRNAN Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER r. KASPER, or FAIRMONT, MINNESOTA, AND EDWARD J. MCKERNAN, 0F

TOPEKA, KANSAS, AssIGNons To FAIRMONT RAILWAY MOTORS, IN C., OF FAIRMONT,

MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA SET-OFF VEHICLE TOP Application filed May 29, 1929.

Y This invention relates to improvements in trailer attachments, such as are used in railway track Work to carry workmen and tools to the desired location. The device herein is known as a set off trailer top and is adapt'- ed to be detachably secured to any trailer, or equivalent device, in a very simple manner.

lObjects of the invention are: to provide a unit of the nature mentioned adapted for attachment to a wheeled vehicle, and includingY parts arranged to provide a seat above the level of the vehicle floor ot dimensions to expose sullicient floor space to vprovide lloor seating capacity laterally of the seat, in some instances on both sides, and thus provide for the comfort of the passengers as well as increase the carrying capacity of the car; to provide such a seat and to provide a storage space therebeneath in which tools can be carried; to provide means for preventing accidental 'displacement of the tools carried under the seat and to permit ready access thereto; t'o provide a skeletonV frame structure for the above purposes; to extend certain of the parts which compose the unit4 laterally of the vehicle to provide a wheel guard disposed to serve as a step, and as a foot rest for those seated upon the floor; to 'have portions of the guard-forming structure cooperative with portions of the car to prevent lateral and longitudinal motions of the unit with reference to the car; to have parts ofthe unit arranged to provide hand rails, oneadjacent each end and adapted to lie transversely of the vehicle when the device is attached, and one arranged substantially centrally and longitudinally of the vehicle above the seat, dividing the seat so that those seated at opposite sides of the rail are provided 'with a hand hold or arm rest; and generally to provide a cheap, simple construction lfor each and all of the purposes above mentioned. Another feature is that the unit can `be simply lifted oil. No fastening devices in the usual sense ofthe word are used. To apply, the device is simply brought over the car and thenlowered to engage the car substantially in thesame manner that a lid or cv'e'r lis placed over a box.

Serial No. 367,002.

Features of the invention include all the details oit construction, as well as the arrangement ot' the brake operating mechanism, permitting it to be in accessible and operative position when the trailer top is operatively disposed upon the car. p

Objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear from the description ol' the drawings, forming a part of this application, and in said drawings Figure l is a perspective view of the unit detached Figure 2 is a perspective view applied to a wheeled vehicle of the trailer type;

Figure 3 is a transverse section substantially on line 3 3 ci Figure 2;

Figure 4t is a plan section at one corner of the device showing a portion ol the guard and step-forming` elements cooperating to prevent longitudinal and transverse movements of the unit; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the arrangement of the brake shoes, and brake shoe operating mechanism, in relation to the vehicle and set-oil top or unit.

The push car or trailer is provided with sills l, axle 2 and wheels 3. On top of the sills l are placed cross bars 4 and on these cross sills is arranged the floor 5.

A suitable brake mechanism is provided including the shoes l0 pivoted as at l1, and connected by links l2, with link 13 in turn connected to arm lil, carried by a rotatively mounted cross shalt l5. The end of the shaft is provided with a socket 16 in which the handle 17 is removably received. The socket is arranged so that the device, forming the principal part of this invention, can be placed upon the car without interference by the socket, and so that after such placement the handle can be operatively engaged with the socket in such relation to the car and trailer unit as will make it accessible to and capable of operation by those who are seated or standing upon the set-oli top, or unit. This is a feature of the invention, and includes details oli' the parts and arrangement thereof.

Although not illustrated in the drawing, it is to be understood that the brake shoes and operating mechanism are duplicated on the shovvn slightly spaced above it.

that the socket does not interfere'vvitli the attachment of theunit; and so that itis disposed to receive the handle, and so that after the handle is engaged in the socket, the braking operation is not interfered With by any part of the deck or trailer top. To simplify the illustration, the braking mechanism has only been shovvn in Figure 5. Y

The general construction of the set-olf top is best shown in Figure l While its operative.

relation vvith the trailer is best shown in Fig ure 3. The device includes tWo terminal arch members 2O also forming transversely arranged hand rails. Each'arch member includes vertical portions 2l, acting as stops cooperative With the trailer to prevent lateral and longitudinal motions of theunit. Up- Wardly, inwardly slanting portions 22 are also provided, as Well as a horizontal top portion 23. The horizontal top portions are connected by a hand rail and brace rod 24, which acts also'to divide a seat, later to be described, into opposite halves, and to provide an arm rest. Each element 2ly is provided with an out-turned foot 25, and secured to these outturned horizontal portions is a step and-foot board 26, which also acts to brace the lower portions of the arch frames. In this case the foot elements 25 have the form of strapiron brackets bolted to the portions 21 of the arch frames. Adjacent the board 26 is arranged a guard board 27, which, When the device is applied to the car, lies in a position to prevent accidental contact oi' the body or clothing of passengers with the Wheels, see

Figure 3. The guard is secured by bolts,

which also secure foot pieces 25.

Arranged horizontally of each arch are cross pieces respectively designated 28-29,

"and to these cross pieces at the inner siderare suitably secured uprights 30, inv pairs. Connecting these uprights at top and bottom are longitudinally extending elements S31- 32, these elements being arranged in pairs at opposite sides as shown. The ensemble of elements just described forms a kind of skeleton structure, which defines av tool space, (When the device is attached to the car) and also provides frame Work for a seat or arm rest, the seat or arm rest proper being indicated at33.v rlhe elements 28 and 3l act as tool guards, and When the device is attached thel elements 28 engage the top surface of the iioor of the vehicle. The elements 3l may also engage the floor but in this instance are Cross brace members having down-turned portions 4l and outwardly turned foot portions 42 are attached by means of suitable brackets 43 to the elements 3l. The element 40 also engages flatly against the top surface of the floor When the device is attached. lllhe fastening devices for the brackets 43, pass through elements 3l and additional uprights 30, see Figure 3. Y

A feature of the invention includes the provision of the seat arranged above the levelof the vehicle floorrofdinensions to expose suficient fioor surface to provide aseatingspace laterally (in this' case on both sides) of the seat. VJ here the floor is utilized as a seat instead of the seat proper, the seat may form an arm rest, and'either elements 31 or 32 may serve as hand rails, or grips.` j f lVhenthe licor of the car 'is utilized as a seat, the elementk 26 serves as afoot rest,"and the element 2'? as a guard. The area of that exposed portion of the floor Which serves as a seat is sufficient to provide foot room for those seated on the element 3l, when other persons are' seated on the floor. Y i j Referring to Figure 4, it Will be notedthat truss rod plates 45 cap lateral extensions of the end cross bars 4or sills. Truss rods 46 connect these cap plates. is is shown in this figure, these cap plates cooperate'with the eX- tensions 2l to pr vent movement of the unit longitudinally fof the car. also cooperates with the side of thefcar to prevent 'lateral movement ofthe unit. In this instance'aspacer block 4'? has beenv shown interposed between the element 21 and the side of the car. lt Will be understood, hovv ever, that the element 2i may engage directly With the side of the car.' Such degree of lateral movement of course must be prevented so that the guard 27 Willvnot come in contact 'With the Wheels. could be used as stops', but inasmuch l'as the plates 45 are part of the regular equipment of the vehicle, they are conveniently'utilized for the purpose set forth.

As before stated, the unit-caribe applied f'- and removed substantially in the saniemanner'thatal lid or cover is Vplaced over or removed from a box;

`We claim as our invention: i

l. A unit adapted for attachment toa Wheeled vehicle including parts'arran'ged to provide a seat above the level ofthe vehicle iioor, of dimensions to expose sufficient floor surface to provide seating space laterally lof l the seat.

The element 2l Of course other means 2. A unit adapted for attachment vto a n Wheeled vehicle including parts arranged toY provide a seatV above the levelofv the rvehicle floor, of dimensions to expose sufficient floor the seat, and including elements arranged to prevent accidental loss of articles placed beneath the seat;

ysuri'ace to providefseatingspace laterally of 5.5

v3.1i unit adapted for attachment to a Wheeled veliicle'including parts arranged to provide hand rails, and to provide a seat above the level of the vehicle floor, With one of the hand rails extending longitudinally of the vehicle and seat above the level of the seat, said seat being of dimensions to expose sutlicient iioor surface to provide seating space laterally of the seat.

ll. A unit adapted for attachment to a Wheeled vehicle including parts arranged to provide a seat above the level of the vehicle floor and a hand rail extending longitudinally of the vehicle andseat above the level of the seat, certain of the parts being extended laterally of the vehicle to provide a Wheel guard disposed to serve as a step.

5. A unit adapted for attachment to a Wheeled vehicle, includingparts arranged to provide a seat above the level of the vehicle, said seat being of dimensions to expose suiiicient vehicle floor surface to provide seating space laterally of the seat, certain of the parts being extended laterally of the vehicle to provide a Wheel guard disposed to serve as a step, and also to act as a foot rest.

6. A unit for the purpose described including parts arranged to provide hand rails, and to provide a seat above the level of the car of dimensions to expose suiiicient car floor surface to provide seating space laterally of the seat, and including elements arranged to prevent accidental loss of articles placed beneath the seat, certain of the parts being extended laterally of the car to provide a Wheel guard disposed to serve as a step, and also as a foot rest for those seated on the car floor.

7 A unit for the purpose described including parts arranged to provide hand rails, and to provide a seat above the level of the car of dimensions to expose sufficient car floor surface to provide seating space laterally of the seat, and including elements arranged to prevent accidental loss of articles placed beneath the seat, certain of the parts being arranged to extend laterally of the car to provide a Wheel guard and disposed to serve as a step, and also as a foot rest Jfor those seated on the car lloor, certain of the parts being arranged and being cooperative With the car to substantially prevent horizontal motions of said unit.

8. A unit for attachment to a Wheeled vehicle, including parts arranged to provide hand rails one adjacent each end and transversely of the vehicle, and one substantially centrally and longitudinally of the vehicle When the device is attached, and to provide a seat spaced belovv the centrally arranged hand rail and above thelevel of the vehicle floor, and of dimensions to expose sufficient vehicle floor surface to provide seating space laterally of the seat.

9. A unit for attachment to a car, including parts arranged to provide hand rails one adjacent each end and transversely of the car, and one substantially centrally and longitudinallyof the car When the device is attached, and to provide a seat spaced below the centrally arranged hand rail and above the level of the car, and of dimensions to expose sufficient car floor surface to provide seating space laterally of the seat, certain of the parts being arranged to extend laterally of the car to provide a wheel guard, disposed to serve as a step, and also as a foot rest for those seated on the car iioor.

l0. A unit for attachment to a Wheeled vehicle including parts arranged to provide hand rails one adjacent each end and transversely of the car, and one substantially centrally and longitudinally of the car when the device is attached, and to provide a seat spaced below the centrally arranged hand rail and above the level of the car, and of dimensions to expose sutlicient car floor surface to provide seating space laterally of the seat, and including elements arranged at the sides and ends of the seat to prevent accidental loss of articles placed beneath the seat, certain of the parts being arranged to extend laterally of the car to provide a Wheel guard, disposed to serve as a step, and also as a foot rest for those seated on the car floor.

ll. A unit for attachment to a Wheeled vehicle, including parts arranged to provide a seat above the floor level of the vehicle, said seat being of dimensions to expose suficient floor surface to provide seating space laterally of the seat, certain of the parts being extended laterally of the car to provide a Wheel guard disposed to serve as a step, and also to act as a foot rest for those seated upon the floor, and having portions cooperating with the car to prevent lateral and longitudinal motions of the unit With reference to the car.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set hand this 30th day of April, 1929.

I/VALTER F. KASPER.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of April, 1929.

EDVARD J. MCKERNAN. 

